Many Green Bay Packers fans, including me, wanted an interior lineman from Duke as their top choice in this past weekend’s draft. Well, we got him — just not the one we expected.
Graham Barton was a popular Packers mock draft choice. However, they took Jacob Monk in the fifth round, and he brings a wealth of experience to Green Bay’s offensive line. With five years of experience and 3,777 snaps, Monk is a battle-tested player ready to come in and fight for a role.
Monk has played all over the line, with 34 starts at right guard, 12 at center, and 12 at right tackle. However, he feels most comfortable along the interior, and the Packers announced him as a center. Matt LaFleur always talks about getting your best five offensive linemen on the field, and we know Green Bay’s line will look different from last season’s. Does Monk have a chance to push for a starting role, and does he signal danger for Josh Myers?
I’m clearly getting ahead of myself here, but if you aren’t getting irrationally pumped over a Day 3 pick, then what’s the point of living? Green Bay tries not to throw rookies into the fire immediately, giving veteran players — especially along the offensive line — the benefit of the doubt.
But it’s not an invalid proposition, considering Monk’s experience, Green Bay’s lack of proven depth (especially along the interior), and that they’ll inevitably shuffle the offensive line.
The Packers have two major players on the line, Zach Tom and first-round pick Jordan Morgan, and they need to find the best spot for them.
We’ve talked a lot about Tom’s future and whether the Packers intend to move him to center, where they believe he has Hall of Fame potential. Drafting Morgan, a seasoned tackle, in the first round makes that move likely. But it isn’t set in stone.
According to Matt LaFleur, Morgan will get his first shot at left tackle, where he played in college. If that sticks, that opens more possibilities. Do they move Tom from right tackle to center and have Rasheed Walker take over the right side? Or do they keep Tom at right tackle for the 2024 season and wait until 2025 to move him to center?
If the plan isn’t to move Tom to center this season, Monk can legitimately challenge Josh Myers for the starting center role. Even though the Packers have publicly supported Myers and favor the veterans in these situations, Myers’ future in Green Bay isn’t secure beyond this season.
Monk isn’t a project. His extensive experience means he can play now. He’s fantastically athletic, with a 9.73 RAS and the fastest 10-yard split of all offensive linemen at the combine. A two-time captain, he has the communication and leadership skills to handle center duties reliably. He also packs additional strength to attack defenders that Myers often struggles with. On paper, he has everything he needs to compete with Myers right away.
Monk looks a lot like Corey Linsley, the other former Ohio State center who Green Bay took in the fifth round. It’s unfair to expect that comparison to immediately manifest, but don’t forget that Linsley came in as an immediate starter.
But while center is probably his ideal spot, Monk has an equally good shot to start at right guard, too.
Green Bay’s greatest uncertainty is right guard. Jon Runyan Jr., who manned that spot for most of the last few years, is gone. Sean Rhyan showed promise as the season went on, getting more time in the spotlight as he split time with Runyan. He is the heir apparent, so to speak, but the position is far from his to lose.
Regardless of how the Tom situation plays out and whether Myers keeps his starting spot, Monk could earn his keep and land a starting spot at right guard as a rookie, potentially moving in the future.
Monk has no fear of where he’ll play, saying he’s comfortable changing positions as needed.
“I don’t feel like it’s challenging to me,” Monk said on Saturday. “It was asked of me, and I did it. It was in between games. There were games where I played left guard, center, and right guard. Coach asked me to go slide over, so I all right do it.”
Monk even joked that he was a former running back until he had a few too many burgers, highlighting his versatility.
Day 3 picks are all about finding value, and a good way to get that value is to find proven collegiate players who can improve your team immediately. That’s the type of player Monk is. At worst, he’ll be a high-upside interior swing backup, something that VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan said the Packers haven’t had in a while. That’s a slam dunk in the fifth round. But there’s an opportunity for Monk to do even more as a rookie, thanks to the available openings. Monk will be one of the most intriguing players to follow this offseason.
